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Saturday, November 12, 2011
What Started It All....An Abridged History of RHSC
Once upon a time, there was a group of Native Americans, the Catawba Indians, who inhabited a large amount of land of what we know as present day York County. They were here for a hella long time, centuries before European settlers came here. They had trading paths up and down the east coast and were one of the larger tribes in the Carolinas.
In 1701 this dude John Lawson came over from England to survey what is now North and South Carolina. He started in Charleston and soon found his way to the 803 through the kick ass rivers that South Carolina has. He encountered the Catawbas and made nice with them.
After he ended up telling everyone how great and fertile this area of the 'new world' was, droves of people flocked here from the North (typical). Most were Scotch-Irish, but there were Welsh, Germans, and Frenchies and some came from Charleston.
So were at about 1720-ish right now and people are pretty happy with the piedmont. One problem. They don't really OWN the land they are living, cultivating, and having a hell of a good time on. So, the Catawbas start leasing their land to the settlers. If you're wondering why the Catawba Indians all live together right near the mall....this is why. They end up leasing a big-ass amount of their land out.
The governor at the time made a law that limited the area of land that people could lease from, which left the Catawbas with about 30 square miles of land...which went down to 15 square miles by 1760. Cool.
In 1840 the land was officially sold to the State of SC...with a few stipulations.
It is important to note that the Catawbas and the settlers in York County got along pretty well. During the Revolutionary War, they helped out a ton. They knew their way around the forests and were true warriors. Although I just said the Catawbas and settlers were BFF (almost pilgrims and Indians like), I do need to add that one of the largest reasons that the Catawbas were so quick to aid the war was that the settlers told them the BRITISH were coming to take THEIR land away.....hmm. I thought that already happened.
Anyways, back to the Revolutionary War....It happened here. Like a lot of it happened in this area. SC had the largest number of battles. Cool, right? Battle of Huck's Defeat in July of 1780 happened basically in Rock Hill's backyard and was one of the first major wins for the colonists.
Long story short, the British lost. South Carolina became a state and civilization started to form around what we know as Rock Hill.
You know Ebenezer Road? That was Ebenzerville, a small village that was incorporated into Rock Hill proper in the 19th century.
Shit stayed the same really until about 1840. That's when Rock Hill became a big deal and started to become the city we know and love. Unfortunately, Rock Hillians of bygone eras weren't able to enjoy the delicacies of Wing King (or Wing Bonz now...wtf does that even mean?) or PW's like we can. They stuck to whatever people were growing/killing.
This is about the time too that locomotives started becoming the 'it-thing.' Sorry, horses. Or not? Less human bullshit to put up with. They wanted to build a railway line from Charlotte to Columbia...two major cities in the southeast. Yeah, at one time Columbia was pretty sweet. Then Sherman came along, dick.
The people of Ebenezerville were pissed that the trains were coming because it was going to be loud....yeah. So, tracks were being placed far enough away to please them, AKA the core of the Thrill.
It was around this time too that major players in Rock Hill history made their debut. George Pendleton White (White Homestead, downtown), Alexander Templeton Black and J. Lawrence Moore all owned a substantial amount of land to the railway companies. Smart men, great investment. They made beaucoups of money.
By the beginning of the 1850's, the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Railway and the Chicago, Cincinnati & Charleston Railways had depots smack dab in the middle of 29732. The trains that passed through came bearing gifts, and so people started setting up shop around the depots so they could get their shit easier. You could probably figure out that this is about the time that downtown starts becoming downtown.
Here we are...1852. The founding of Rock Hill. Its birthday is actually April 17th, the opening of the post office. So, if you need a reason to go get shitfaced at Pub House on April 17th (but do you really need a reason?) tell people you're celebrating the birfday of the best city in South Carolina.
This is actually a cute and a totally TRH story. When the area around the railroad started to grow, they were like, 'what shall we call this town?' Laurence Moore, the dude I mentioned, before said "Rock Hill." This was because there was a ROCKY HILL near the area. Really? So, if you were wondering why it's called Rock Hill....it's because there was a fucking mound of rocks on a hill.
The Civil War really shitted on that mound of rocks on a hill, as it did on the whole south. Tons of men were killed and the desolate situation that Rock Hill was in really did not help the growth. Rock Hill was super important though because it was a stop on one of the few railroads the south had access to. Jefferson Davis even passed through Rock Hill and stayed in Fort Mill during his flight through the south when he fled Richmond.
The Civil War ended (thank god) and reconstruction began. Between about 1865 and 1910 Rock Hill's population EXPLODED and reached 7,215 people. OVER 7000 PEOPLE. HOLY SHIT, Y'ALL. THAT'S LIKE NORTHWESTERN CLASSES OF 2004, 2005, 2006 AND 2007 COMBINED. Railroads also meant industrialization. Turn of the century was when the cotton mills downtown were built and brought workers in.
Winthrop was founded in 1886 as a women's college. A college in the city? It must be legit now, right? It is. These were Rock Hill's glory days. There was also a sweet new train depot built in 1912 that became a symbol of Rock Hill. It was demolished in the 1970's during the super cool and effective urban renewal program that became all the hype up and down the east coast. Kidding. It was a kick ass building that should have stayed. Luckily, we still have the White Home on Elizabeth Street.
Nothing extremely newsworthy happened (are you surprised?) in the early 20th century. Shit was built...Rock Hill High was founded (1888), etc., etc., etc.....nothing exciting.
Interject Glencairn Gardens: being the backdrop of prom pictures since 1960.
Rock Hill made national news in 1961 during the time of tumultuous racial relations. On January 31st, 1961 nine students from Friendship Junior College staged a sit-in at McCrory's lunch counter, a segregated establishment on Main Street (now Old Town Bistro).
These men were arrested and eight of them spent time 30 days in prison for trespassing, one decided to pay a fine. Sit-ins were a brave and commendable act in the early 1960's, and it's pretty cool that something like this happened in Rock Hill. Honestly, these men and their ballsyness are probably what Rock Hill should be most proud of. This also proves that Rock Hill has always been full of badass people.
8 of the Friendship Nine are still alive (Robert McCullough died in 2006).
They are: Thomas Gaither, Clarence Graham, W.T. "Dub" Massey, Willie McLeod, James Wells, David Williamson, Jr. and Mack Workman. If you ever see them out and about, give them a high five, hug or just a thank you. They are for real inspiring and legit.
A year after the Friendship Nine did their thing, Rock Hill's pride and joy was born. COME SEE ME! It started as just a weekend event it started as just a weekend event...now it's expanded to ten whole days of TRH insanity...INSANITY. Wonder if they had the fireworks with that tribute to Rock-n-Roll background music in 1962? Let's pray to God they did... they were just able to listen to the music from their transistor radios instead.
This would be a good place to mention the Mac Daddy of Rock Hill, Vernon Grant. He's probably the most well known person out of Rock Hill. As you learned in elementary school art class, Grant was responsible for the Snap, Crackle, and Pop campaign that Kellogg's still runs to this day.
The 1970's were the start of modern Rock Hill that we know and love. Your parents (I'm assuming the majority of people reading this are twentysomethings) just got a new high school, Northwestern, to either go to or hate.
1986: The era of Betty Joe Rhea and her amazingly awesome scarves commenced.
1989: Rock Hill and all of South Carolina got their asses kicked by Hurricane Hugo.
In 1991 the Galleria was built. Thank Jesus. All Rock Hill needed was a shitty mall. Lest not forget the old Rock Hill Mall on Cherry Road and its use as a bingo parlor. RIP. I tried to find an establishment date for Ebenezer Grill, but couldn't. If anyone can confirm this, let me know. I feel like it's important enough to add in.
Oh, present day Rock Hill. I could sum up the commonplace activities by just adding a link to heraldonline.com to see all the stupid shit our fellow citizens are up to. Ok, good idea.
(www.heraldonline.com) Rock Hill has really grown, too. Y'all, we got two Wal-Marts, a Target, and an Olive Garden. It's now the forth largest city in South Carolina with over 70k people and three whole high schools, Rock Hill has also produced some exceptional athletes. Justin Worley? Jadaveon Clowney? Anyone? They put Rock Hill on ESPN for Christ's sake.
So, here we are, November 2011. At the end of the day, we're just at someone's house....drinking, at one of Rock Hill's fine establishments...drinking, at a football game, piddling, fixing to do something or on a country ride.
Speaking of, who wants to get a case of Bud Light Limes and come over? Someone needs to be DD though, we've GOT to go to Waffle House.
* Friendship 9 image from: http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/article991505.ece
* Glen the Frog image from: http://weekend10.com/area-event-pages/rock-hill-events/
* Betty Jo image from: http://www.heraldonline.com/2008/05/08/543725/a-towering-honor.html
*Worley image from: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/544525-tennessee-volunteers-reasons-to-be-thankful-and-a-few-things-to-change
*Clowney image from: http://www.visa2tour.com/2011/02/14/jadeveon-clowney-join-south-carolina/
In 1701 this dude John Lawson came over from England to survey what is now North and South Carolina. He started in Charleston and soon found his way to the 803 through the kick ass rivers that South Carolina has. He encountered the Catawbas and made nice with them.
 |
| Catawba Indian Village oldhalifax.org |
So were at about 1720-ish right now and people are pretty happy with the piedmont. One problem. They don't really OWN the land they are living, cultivating, and having a hell of a good time on. So, the Catawbas start leasing their land to the settlers. If you're wondering why the Catawba Indians all live together right near the mall....this is why. They end up leasing a big-ass amount of their land out.
The governor at the time made a law that limited the area of land that people could lease from, which left the Catawbas with about 30 square miles of land...which went down to 15 square miles by 1760. Cool.
In 1840 the land was officially sold to the State of SC...with a few stipulations.
It is important to note that the Catawbas and the settlers in York County got along pretty well. During the Revolutionary War, they helped out a ton. They knew their way around the forests and were true warriors. Although I just said the Catawbas and settlers were BFF (almost pilgrims and Indians like), I do need to add that one of the largest reasons that the Catawbas were so quick to aid the war was that the settlers told them the BRITISH were coming to take THEIR land away.....hmm. I thought that already happened.
 |
| Battle of Huck's Defeat sciway2.net |
Long story short, the British lost. South Carolina became a state and civilization started to form around what we know as Rock Hill.
You know Ebenezer Road? That was Ebenzerville, a small village that was incorporated into Rock Hill proper in the 19th century.
Shit stayed the same really until about 1840. That's when Rock Hill became a big deal and started to become the city we know and love. Unfortunately, Rock Hillians of bygone eras weren't able to enjoy the delicacies of Wing King (or Wing Bonz now...wtf does that even mean?) or PW's like we can. They stuck to whatever people were growing/killing.
This is about the time too that locomotives started becoming the 'it-thing.' Sorry, horses. Or not? Less human bullshit to put up with. They wanted to build a railway line from Charlotte to Columbia...two major cities in the southeast. Yeah, at one time Columbia was pretty sweet. Then Sherman came along, dick.
 |
| Railroad map c. 1896 |
It was around this time too that major players in Rock Hill history made their debut. George Pendleton White (White Homestead, downtown), Alexander Templeton Black and J. Lawrence Moore all owned a substantial amount of land to the railway companies. Smart men, great investment. They made beaucoups of money.
By the beginning of the 1850's, the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Railway and the Chicago, Cincinnati & Charleston Railways had depots smack dab in the middle of 29732. The trains that passed through came bearing gifts, and so people started setting up shop around the depots so they could get their shit easier. You could probably figure out that this is about the time that downtown starts becoming downtown.
Here we are...1852. The founding of Rock Hill. Its birthday is actually April 17th, the opening of the post office. So, if you need a reason to go get shitfaced at Pub House on April 17th (but do you really need a reason?) tell people you're celebrating the birfday of the best city in South Carolina.
This is actually a cute and a totally TRH story. When the area around the railroad started to grow, they were like, 'what shall we call this town?' Laurence Moore, the dude I mentioned, before said "Rock Hill." This was because there was a ROCKY HILL near the area. Really? So, if you were wondering why it's called Rock Hill....it's because there was a fucking mound of rocks on a hill.
The Civil War really shitted on that mound of rocks on a hill, as it did on the whole south. Tons of men were killed and the desolate situation that Rock Hill was in really did not help the growth. Rock Hill was super important though because it was a stop on one of the few railroads the south had access to. Jefferson Davis even passed through Rock Hill and stayed in Fort Mill during his flight through the south when he fled Richmond.
The Civil War ended (thank god) and reconstruction began. Between about 1865 and 1910 Rock Hill's population EXPLODED and reached 7,215 people. OVER 7000 PEOPLE. HOLY SHIT, Y'ALL. THAT'S LIKE NORTHWESTERN CLASSES OF 2004, 2005, 2006 AND 2007 COMBINED. Railroads also meant industrialization. Turn of the century was when the cotton mills downtown were built and brought workers in.
 |
| RIP! |
Nothing extremely newsworthy happened (are you surprised?) in the early 20th century. Shit was built...Rock Hill High was founded (1888), etc., etc., etc.....nothing exciting.
Interject Glencairn Gardens: being the backdrop of prom pictures since 1960.
 |
| Y'all, me and my high school boyfriend are going to be together FOREVER. ci.rock-hill.sc.us |
 |
| Friendship 9 that day* |
8 of the Friendship Nine are still alive (Robert McCullough died in 2006).
They are: Thomas Gaither, Clarence Graham, W.T. "Dub" Massey, Willie McLeod, James Wells, David Williamson, Jr. and Mack Workman. If you ever see them out and about, give them a high five, hug or just a thank you. They are for real inspiring and legit.
 |
| Yes, the City of Rock Hill spent money on two foam frog costumes.* |
 |
| Vernie Grant in his Studio vernongrant.org |
The 1970's were the start of modern Rock Hill that we know and love. Your parents (I'm assuming the majority of people reading this are twentysomethings) just got a new high school, Northwestern, to either go to or hate.
 |
| Rock Hill's Original Fashion Plate * |
1989: Rock Hill and all of South Carolina got their asses kicked by Hurricane Hugo.
 |
| What a Dick. http://www.heraldonline.com/2008/09/03/788446/looking-back-on-hurricane-hugo.html |
Oh, present day Rock Hill. I could sum up the commonplace activities by just adding a link to heraldonline.com to see all the stupid shit our fellow citizens are up to. Ok, good idea.
(www.heraldonline.com) Rock Hill has really grown, too. Y'all, we got two Wal-Marts, a Target, and an Olive Garden. It's now the forth largest city in South Carolina with over 70k people and three whole high schools, Rock Hill has also produced some exceptional athletes. Justin Worley? Jadaveon Clowney? Anyone? They put Rock Hill on ESPN for Christ's sake.
Whose team are you on?*
Speaking of, who wants to get a case of Bud Light Limes and come over? Someone needs to be DD though, we've GOT to go to Waffle House.
* Friendship 9 image from: http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/article991505.ece
* Glen the Frog image from: http://weekend10.com/area-event-pages/rock-hill-events/
* Betty Jo image from: http://www.heraldonline.com/2008/05/08/543725/a-towering-honor.html
*Worley image from: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/544525-tennessee-volunteers-reasons-to-be-thankful-and-a-few-things-to-change
*Clowney image from: http://www.visa2tour.com/2011/02/14/jadeveon-clowney-join-south-carolina/
Rock Hill Vocabulary Lesson of the Day
up the road (ʌp ðə rəʊd)
- in travel, the distance from one point to the next. Usually implying that said distance is short.
As seen in Rock Hill: I just live up the road from my grandma on Trexler Lane.
Synonyms: down the road, up the street
Friday, November 11, 2011
As Seen in Rock Hill
What's wrong with pride of having a little junk the trunk? Nothing. But displaying actually displaying said pride above the actual trunk of your car? well, that's just TRH.
...I bet they do.
THIS IS OUR FIRST SUBMISSION. THANK YOU! PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR TRH MOMENTS, PHOTOS, AND WORDS TO totallyrockhill@gmail.com. If you want to be credited or anonymous, please state that!
TRHFB 11.11.11
Hot damn....what's better than a little TRH topped with cheese and jalapeños? NOTHING
From the Newsroom: Archives Edition
-this piece of newsworthy badass TRH-ness originally made its debut in May of 2011, but was too good not to bring back.
Elementary student: 'Give me your chicken nuggets or I'll stab you'
ROCK HILL - Police in Rock Hill say an elementary school student has been suspended after he threatened another student with a knife, in an effort to take his chicken nuggets.
According to a Rock Hill police report, the incident happened at Sunset Park Elementary School last Tuesday, May 3rd. The school's principal called police on Thursday to report the incident, after a 10-year-old student told her that he was threatened with a pocket knife.
The student told the principal that while he and another student were at lunch, the other student demanded that he "give him his chicken nuggets or he would stab him with the knife."The report states that the student refused to give up his chicken nuggets and nothing further happened between the two.
A third student who witnessed the threat told police that he was also threatened by the student. The knife was found in the student's book bag.
The boy's parents were notified and the student was suspended indefinitely from the school and has been recommended for expulsion.
Neither of the students has pressed charges against the boy.
Listen kid, people want their chicken nuggets...it's understandable. There are ways around this. Violence isn't the answer....ask this kid.
KANG CURTIS
heraldonline.com, may 10, 2011
As Seen in Rock Hill
Man in loafers with no socks in the beer aisle of walmart....TRH
I bet he went to Clemson.
From the Newsroom
Bricks thrown at Cars on Rock Hill highway
Two Rock Hill women claim someone threw bricks at their cars while they were driving down S.C. 324 Monday evening.
The women, a 48-year-old and a 37-year-old, were traveling moments apart down the road when they saw something hit their cars, according to a York county Sheriff's Office report.
The 48-year-old reported a brick had struck the driver's side windshield and hood of her 2004 Chevy Malibu, the report states. Deputies noted a scratch on the windshield and found deep dents and brick fragments lodged into the hood vents.
The 37-year-old, who was driving a 2004 Hyundai Sante Fe, said something "hard and heavy" struck her driver's side windshield, the report states. There were were also scratches and brick residue found on her car.
Both women gave a suspect description of a man wearing a red shirt, but he was not located, the report states.
Neither driver was injured.
Who throws bricks? Really? Well, you are in McConnells....makes sense I guess.
Originally Published 11.10.11, heraldonline.com, by, Nicole SmithRead more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/11/10/3516943/bricks-thrown-at-cars-driving.html#ixzz1dQVExBj3
TRHFB 11.11.11
ROCK HILL | Police: Man stole Rock Hill woman's car while on probation | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
ROCK HILL | Police: Man stole Rock Hill woman's car while on probation | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
Rock Hill -- A 29 year old man who told police he"needed to get to Family Dollar" was arrested after officers stopped him driving a stolen car, according to a Rock Hill Police report.
From the Newsroom
Worker charged with stealing cash from Dollar General
originally published 11/11/11. heraldonline.com by, Jamie Self
You go girl!
ROCK HILL --
An employee of the Dollar General at 1807 Cherry Road is accused of stealing $910 from nightly cash drops from the store.
Ashley Bennett, 19, told police she took the money to pay her bills, according to a Rock Hill police report.
A manager told police Bennett took the money between Oct. 27 and Nov. 4.
Bennett was arrested Thursday and charged with breach of trust.
Bennett has no prior criminal record in South Carolina, according to SLED records.
You mean to tell me you gave up your discount at the Dollar General for $910 measly dollars? PS--you look like Topanga.
You mean to tell me you gave up your discount at the Dollar General for $910 measly dollars? PS--you look like Topanga.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Overheard in Rock Hill....
"Why would I want a southwest eggroll? I only eat eggrolls from China."
-young lady at the Chili's on Dave Lyle.
Are you even an American? Who doesn't like Southwest eggrolls?
-young lady at the Chili's on Dave Lyle.
Are you even an American? Who doesn't like Southwest eggrolls?
Mug Shot of the Week
This week we salute you, Tina Marie Patterson.
A few things I'd like share with you.
1) sweet braids. or lack thereof since they are falling out. but, I forgive you. You did just get arrested.
2) you're not 150 pounds.
3) you've got quite a diverse rap sheet. from shoplifting to possession and a dui, you're a hardcore bitch.
4) 1+2+3=TRH
I'm from the Roc---the R.O.C.
Our inaugural post! What's the best way to kick off our blog? We only see one way to do it.
Enjoy, y'all.
And Cran Neely, thanks for incapsulating Rock Hill into a 2 minute and 53 second rap. You're a genius and every citizen of the 29732 pretty much owes you.
Enjoy, y'all.
And Cran Neely, thanks for incapsulating Rock Hill into a 2 minute and 53 second rap. You're a genius and every citizen of the 29732 pretty much owes you.
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